Studying Goes a Long Way: Houston Area Dr Mark D'Andrea's Case Study Will Be Instrumental in BP Trial
Houston, Texas (PRWEB) October 09, 2013 -- September 2013 could not come soon enough for residents of Texas City, Texas. It marks the beginning of what will hopefully be the end of a three-year ordeal. Four out of a potential 48,000 civil lawsuits began on September 12th against British Petroleum alleging that BP caused significant medical harm to the neighbors of its nearby refinery because of a "40 day flare." The plaintiffs are seeking $200,000 each on top of another $10 billion in damages.
On April 6, 2010, the facility began the flare-- a procedure reserved for emergencies-- to stop a leaking of gases. However, instead of being burned away, it was reported that more than 500,000 pounds of chemicals (12,500 pounds per day) were released into the atmosphere. In addition to this voluntary flair there were other unscheduled leaks and malfunctions releasing additional chemicals. Such practices have already cost the company $50 million in a settlement over a pollution lawsuit with the state attorney general.
BP itself reported these emissions to the state of Texas that June, well after the residents of nearby Texas City were exposed to these chemicals. Included among the emissions were over 17,000 pounds of benzene, a major component of crude oil and gasoline products, but what are the potential medical consequences of such an exposure?
Enter Dr. Mark A. D’Andrea and his research team, who sought to answer this question, specifically with benzene gas.
They conducted a pilot study at the University Cancer and Diagnostic Centers in Houston, TX of 200 subjects, half of which lived in close proximity to the BP refinery, and the other half approximately 30 miles away from the area. In short, the study compared medical data collected from blood and urine samples from the two groups.
Across the board, subjects that were exposed to benzene had significantly elevated white blood cell counts, platelets, and decreased blood urea nitrogen. In addition, exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase, among others.
Translation? These people are at high risk of developing hepatic or blood related cancers, as opposed to non-exposed subjects.
Obviously, these results should be quite interesting for those people of Texas City, who are hoping to be compensated for their involuntary exposure to these potentially deadly chemicals. Not surprisingly, BP disagrees. Since 2010, the company has staunchly denied that people were harmed in any way as a result of the flaring.
But D’Andrea's study will seemingly put a big dent in that assessment. As these first four trials go on, one might suspect that it will only take a few rulings in favor of the plaintiffs before BP starts looking to settle. 48,000 separate trials would be quite the cost for the company.
For D’Andrea and his team, this study will, hopefully, be the first of many.
"In a city like Houston with so much petrochemical industry, there are virtually no studies on the effect of accidents or chronic or acute exposures on its residents," D’Andrea said in an interview. "These are the first reported findings in a case like this."
Thanks to this trailblazing study, D’Andrea ... and the team at University Cancer and Diagnotic Centers could be getting quite a few thank you cards in the mail-- around 48,000 perhaps?
Mark A. D’Andrea, MD, FACRO and G. Kesava Reddy's, PhD, MHA full study "Health Effects of Benzene Exposure among Children Following a Flaring Incident at the British Petroleum Refinery in Texas City" was published on Oct 2, 2013 by Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, and is Copyright Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.
Stay tuned.
Dr Mark D'Andrea, University Cancer Centers, http://www.universitycancercenters.com, +1 (713) 474-1414, [email protected]
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